Written by Jeff Mackey
PETA's work to put a stop to the elephant rides offered at California fairs by the notoriously cruel exhibitor Have Trunk Will Travel—including submitting extensive written testimony to fair board members, sending a PETA representative to testify, and issuing an action alert—continues to bear fruit, as Orange County has followed in the compassionate footsteps of the Santa Ana Zoo and will no longer be hosting elephant rides.
Marion Doss | cc by 2.0
The Orange County Fair had hosted Have Trunk Will Travel—whose trainers have been caught on video repeatedly shocking elephants with electric prods and beating them with bullhooks (cruel instruments resembling fireplace pokers)—for 25 years. But after more than a year of pressure from PETA, Animal Defenders International, and others, including many wonderful PETA Files readers—have I told you lately that I love you?—the OC Fair has told the animal abusers at Have Trunk Will Travel to step off.
Please thank the members of the OC Fair Board for their compassionate decision and ask the San Diego County and Los Angeles County fairs to follow suit by banning Have Trunk Will Travel.
By submitting this form, you are agreeing to our collection, storage, use, and disclosure of your personal info in accordance with our privacy policy as well as to receiving e-mails from us.
If you have a general question for PETA and would like a response, please e-mail Info@peta.org. If you need to report cruelty to an animal, please click here. If you are reporting an animal in imminent danger and know where to find the animal and if the abuse is taking place right now, please call your local police department. If the police are unresponsive, please call PETA immediately at 757-622-7382 and press 2.
Follow PETA on Twitter!